Indepth Lijiang and Shangri-La Tour

Upon arrival, you will meet our guide and driver outside the customs hall of Lijiang Airport. After a warm greeting, we will transfer you to the Lijiang Old Town to start this 12-day private Yunnan tour. The Old Town of Lijiang is not only a mountain city surrounded by verdant hills, but also a water land full of crisscrossing water lanes beneath stone bridges. At the end of the day, our guide will lead you to check in a local hotel.

Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort

In the morning, we will head for the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by a private ride. After viewing plateau meadows and secluded valleys at Ganhaizi and White Water River at the mountain foot, transfer to the cable car to Spruce Plateau to catch sight of the solemn Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from a distance.

After lunch, your Lijiang Indepth tour will turn to the Baisha Village. You will also visit a local Naxi family. Next, appreciate the well-known Baisha Murals made during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 – 1911).

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will be escorted to the idyllic Tacheng Town. Along the way, get off at Tiger Leaping Gorge to appreciate the rapid river roaring through a deep canyon between precipitous cliffs. We will also pass by the Shigu (Stone Drum) Village famed for a drum-shaped stone tablet made of white marble. After arriving at Tacheng, the guide will help you check in a hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Songtsam Lodges Tacheng

Today we will have a day trip to Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey Nature Reserve. This scarce species of monkeys are a national treasure of China, and live exclusively in this preservation zone. Both the primitive ecological environment and the wild fauna and flora are well preserved and protected. You would have fun seeing these monkeys climbing trees and also feeding them while staying in the reserve. After that, we will transfer you back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we will drive along the Lancang River to Cizhong through Weixi Town where we will have a stopover at a local market. On the way, we will also visit Tongle Village – an ancient mountain hamlet of Lisu nationality, and enjoy the breathtaking sight at the great bend of the Lancang River. Check in the Songtsam Lodge Cizhong for one night’s stay after arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Songtsam Lodge Cizhong

In the morning, we will guide you to tour the Cizhong Church, which is a catholic cathedral in Gothic and Chinese style. If it’s Sunday, you may attend the high mass with believers of Tibet, Lisu, Naxi, and Han nationalities from neighboring villages.

After lunch, take a 2 hours’ ride to Deqin County. En route, you will be guided to the Qidengge Monastery and a kindergarten in a Tibetan village called Puli. Check in the Songtsam Lodge Meili upon arrival in Deqin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Songtsam Lodge Meili

Get up early and we will guide you to admire the sunrise at Mount Kawagebo, the highest peak in Yunnan Province and is also recognized as the most beautiful snow mountain in the world. After about one hour’s driving, you will reach Mingyong Village and then take an eco-vehicle to the hillside of Mingyong Glacier. After that, hike for about 2 hours to the observation platform, and pay a visit to the Taizi Temple in the midway. We will also have a picnic lunch on the trail. Afterwards, return to Deqin by car, and then you will be led to tour the Feilai Monastery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning, you will take a meditation under the guidance of the hotel staff. After that, set out for Benzilan by a 3-hour ride via Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. We will stop at Dongzhulin Monastery on the way to observe precious cultural relics and fancy mandala. Upon arrival, check in the Songtsam Lodge Benzilan, and you will be free for the rest of the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Songtsam Lodge Benzilan

After breakfast, we will start today’s hiking trip to a village in the gorge of Benzilan, famous for traditional Tibetan lacquer bowls. There, you can understand the making process of the delicate bowls, and paint bowls with colorized lacquers by yourself at a workshop. When the hiking is over, you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we will drive you to the scenic Shangri-La. Get off of the car during the journey and tour the Nixi Earthenware Village, a Tibetan village famous for fine black potteries. We will also pass by the Napa Lake Natural Reserve with immense prairie. Check in Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La after arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La

After breakfast, set out for today’s private Shangri-La tour to the Songzanlin Monastery against the majestic mountain. Built in 1679, the Songzanlin Monastery has a large architectural scale with the similar outline of a palatial castle. Hence, it is nicknamed as ‘the little Potala Palace’. Afterwards, you will experience local customs and cultures in a bustling bazaar.

After lunch, spend a light-hearted afternoon at the Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake in the Potatso National Park in east Shangri-La.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take your entire belongings to check out the hotel after breakfast. Your 12 days Yunnan tour package will end here, and then you will be escorted to the airport for your leaving flight. We hope that you will have a nice journey home!